Parts of Speech

Effective Communication for Colleges, 10th edby Brantley and Miller

Thomson South-Western

NounsNouns““All the facts of nature are nouns of the All the facts of nature are nouns of the intellect, and make the grammar of the intellect, and make the grammar of the eternal language. Every word has a double, eternal language. Every word has a double, treble, or centuple use and meaning.”treble, or centuple use and meaning.”

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

U.S. essayist, poet, philosopherU.S. essayist, poet, philosopher

(1803-1882)(1803-1882)

PronounsPronouns““When a tiny word gives you a big headache, it’s When a tiny word gives you a big headache, it’s

probably a pronoun.”probably a pronoun.”Patricia T. O’ConnerPatricia T. O’Conner

Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe’s GuideWoe Is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guideto Better Englishto Better English in Plain Englishin Plain English

(2003)(2003)

VerbsVerbs “ “They’ve a temper, some of them—particularly verbs: they’re They’ve a temper, some of them—particularly verbs: they’re

the proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not the proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs—however, I can manage the whole lot of them!”verbs—however, I can manage the whole lot of them!”

Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson]Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson]

British author, mathematician, clergymanBritish author, mathematician, clergyman

(1832-1898)(1832-1898)

AdjectivesAdjectives““As to the adjective, when in doubt, strike it As to the adjective, when in doubt, strike it

out.”out.”Mark TwainMark Twain

American writerAmerican writer(1835-1910)(1835-1910)

AdverbsAdverbs ““I’m glad you like adverbs—I adore them; they are I’m glad you like adverbs—I adore them; they are

the only qualifications I really much respect.”the only qualifications I really much respect.”Henry JamesHenry James

Letter to Miss M. Betham EdwardsLetter to Miss M. Betham Edwards(January 5, 1912)(January 5, 1912)

PrepositionsPrepositions ““Ending a sentence with a preposition is Ending a sentence with a preposition is

something up with which I will not put.”something up with which I will not put.”

Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillEnglish statesmanEnglish statesman

(1874-1965)(1874-1965)

InterjectionsInterjections

““I’m like wow! is an interjection, and while it I’m like wow! is an interjection, and while it shows up way too often in speech these shows up way too often in speech these days, it rarely sees the light of day in writing, days, it rarely sees the light of day in writing, primarily because those who utter lots of primarily because those who utter lots of I’mlikewows I’mlikewows don’t often write very much.”don’t often write very much.”

C. Edward GoodC. Edward GoodA Grammar Book for You and I . . . OOPS, Me!A Grammar Book for You and I . . . OOPS, Me!

(2002)(2002)

ConjunctionsConjunctions ““In our grammatical house, conjunctions are the In our grammatical house, conjunctions are the

archways between adjoining rooms, the hallways archways between adjoining rooms, the hallways connecting bedrooms, the staircases leading from floor connecting bedrooms, the staircases leading from floor to floor. Conjunctions, whose name comes from the to floor. Conjunctions, whose name comes from the Latin for ‘join with,’ connect words, phrases, and Latin for ‘join with,’ connect words, phrases, and clauses.”clauses.”

Constance HaleConstance HaleSin and Syntax—How to Craft Wickedly Effective ProseSin and Syntax—How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose

(1999)(1999)

SentencesSentences ““You want to write a sentence as clean as a You want to write a sentence as clean as a

bone. That is the goal.”bone. That is the goal.”James BaldwinJames Baldwin

American writerAmerican writer(1924-1987)(1924-1987)